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Parasitic mites and microsporidians in managed western honey bee colonies on the island of Newfoundland, Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2012

Geoffrey R. Williams ,
Krista Head ,
Karen L. Burgher-MacLellan ,
Richard E.L. Rogers  and
Dave Shutler
Geoffrey R. Williams*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4J1, and Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada B4P 2R6
Krista Head
Affiliation:
Agri-Foods Branch, Forestry and Agri-Foods Agency, Department of Natural Resources, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada A2H 6J8
Karen L. Burgher-MacLellan
Affiliation:
Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada B4N 1J5
Richard E.L. Rogers
Affiliation:
Wildwood Labs Inc., Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada B4N 3Z1
Dave Shutler
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada B4P 2R6
*
1 Corresponding author (e-mail: geoffrey.r.williams@gmail.com).
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Abstract

Western honey bees, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), occur in nearly every region inhabited by man because they provide valuable honey, wax, and pollination services. Many commercial honey bee operations are plagued by economically important parasites; however, beekeepers on the island of Newfoundland, Canada, are in a unique position because of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador’s strict import regulations and geographic isolation. We surveyed about 25% of the island’s approximately 100 managed honey bee colonies. The parasitic mites Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman (Acari: Varroidae) and Acarapis woodi (Rennie) (Acari: Tarsonemidae) were not detected, whereas Nosema spp. microsporidia were detected in two of four beekeeping operations and in 11 of 23 (48%) colonies (intensity = 482 609 ± 1199 489 (mean ± SD); median intensity = 0). Because V. destructor and A. woodi are important pests that typically require chemical treatments, beekeepers on the island of Newfoundland may be uniquely positioned to market organic honey bee products from colonies that could also be a source of mite-naïve bees for research.

Résumé

L’abeille domestique occidentale, Apis mellifera L. (Hymnenoptera : Apidae), se retrouve dans pratiquement toutes les régions habités par les humains parce qu’elle fournit du miel, de la cire et des services de pollinisation précieux. Plusieurs entreprises commerciales d'apiculture sont gênées par la présence de parasites d'importance économique; cependant, les apiculteurs de l'île de Terre-Neuve sont en position enviable à cause des règlements stricts d'importation de la Province de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador et de l'isolement géographique. Nous avons inventorié environ 25 % de la centaine de colonies d'abeilles élevées commercialement. Aucun acarien parasite Varroa destructor Anderson et Trueman (Acari: Varroidae) ni Acarapis woodi (Rennie) (Acari: Tarsonemidae) n’a été décelé; alors que les microsporidies Nosema spp. ont été trouvées dans 2 de 4 apicultures et 11 de 23 (48 %) colonies (intensité moyenne ± ET= 482 609 ± 1199 489; intensité médiane= 0), Parce que V. destructor et A. woodi sont des ravageurs importants qui nécessitent généralement des traitements chimiques, les apiculteurs de l'île de Terre-Neuve sont en position unique pour mettre sur le marché des produits de l'abeille organiques provenant de colonies qui pourraient aussi être une source d'abeilles jamais exposées aux acariens pour la recherche scientifique.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 142 , Issue 6 , December 2010 , pp. 584 - 588
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2010

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